Just drove a Chimera

[mikea4tdi]

Popped out for lunch in a friends Chimera 400.
It was interesting.
Agree the s is raw compared to the chim, overall the chim is IMO a nicer more refined car but I don't think you get anymore enjoyment out of driving one over the S experience. My s is louder and seems to pull harder at low revs it shakes and rattles more and steering feedback is better but harder to drive on B roads.
My view is you wouldn't be left for dead in a s and you'd have just as much fun getting there for half the price.
I love the look of chim though and will still consider one as an upgrade but I'd like a go in V8s before I would say for sure which I prefer.
Above 4k you are definately going faster and pulling harder.
Interesting comparison.

Forgot to say, brakes a hundred times better than my S

Edited by mikea4tdi on Thursday 24th September 14:28

[page3]

I always prefered my S to my brothers Chimaera. Yes, the Chim is a lot more civilised and more of a grand tourer but the S is just more fun.

Now he has a Tamora and i must say it is a different league all together. Love everything about it, except perhaps the service costs.

Edited by page3 on Thursday 24th September 16:50

[Longers]

I went from an S2 to Chim then back to S's....
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/members/showcar.asp?c...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/members/showcar.asp?c...

Totally agree with Mike about the differences between the 2 cars. I still really love my S.

Right, time to log off and go and meet Dave M in one of his TVR's and Dale in his Tamora One day I will get a Tamora but only after I've had a Griffith

Longers

PS the was for the Tamora and not Dale

[V6 Addict]

Only 9 TVR S's for sale on Pistonheads at the moment, but there are 40 Griffiths and 81 Chim's!
What does that say about the S?
We love 'em.
Jon.

[Barkychoc]

mikea4tdi said:

Forgot to say, brakes a hundred times better than my S

Chimaera fronts are identical to the S, its only the rears that are different, drums on S, discs on Chimaera.

[The Lukas]

I'd say the Chimaeras I've driven seemed a nicer more refined drive. Bumps were soaked up very well, the ride quality was very nice, almost 'normal carish' and seemed a TOTALLY different car than the S and would need to me to get used to one. S is more of a general cheap pretty TVR hooning car.

I find the S easier to drive enthusiastically than the Chimaera which to me promotes more of a laid back driving style which isn't always bad. Horses for courses.

[tubbystu]

Barkychoc said:

mikea4tdi said:

Forgot to say, brakes a hundred times better than my S

Chimaera fronts are identical to the S, its only the rears that are different, drums on S, discs on Chimaera.

For the record; it is discs all round on the V8S.

Edited by tubbystu on Friday 25th September 17:30

[Bobhon]

If I absolutely had to replace my S with another 'affordable' TVR then it would be a Griffith. Haven't been in either one but looked over a few, prefer the cleaner lines of them over the Chimaera's. Looks more classic to me.
But I guess it's all about personal choice.

[Yellabelly]

Luckily, having both, though the S is SORN'd at the moment, I have to say that much as I love the S and I have had it for 6.1/2 years but.....the Griff is something else. It is a '96 500HC with the engine completely rebuilt by V8 Development and it is just so superb to drive with all that power and handling to match and the sound is.......aural sex, although my wife prefers the sound of the V6!! The S was a great introduction to TVRs, however the Griff IMHO is the iconic TVR.

YB

[Bobhon]

And there are some cheap (sub £8K) Grifs being listed on PH. So tempting, especially if you could keep the S as well (dream on).
Don't think that Santa will drop one in my socks this Xmas either.

The next classic, I'm told by SWMBO, will be a VW Bay window camper van!!!!
I don't think that I'll be posting about the power output or the 0-60 time on that...

[Longers]

Bobhon said:

The next classic, I'm told by SWMBO, will be a VW Bay window camper van!!!!
I don't think that I'll be posting about the power output or the 0-60 time on that...

A mate of mine had one of those with an old 911 engine in it

[techbotics]

Longers said:

Bobhon said:

The next classic, I'm told by SWMBO, will be a VW Bay window camper van!!!!
I don't think that I'll be posting about the power output or the 0-60 time on that...

A mate of mine had one of those with an old 911 engine in it

Or the modern and cheaper alternative Subaru Flat 4 NA or Sti Turbo.. mmm.. I believe Subaru do a Flat4 diesel too if you want.. this is a straightforward well documented conversion in the VW community.

Damian

[The Lukas]

Back on topic (sort of):

Chimaeras and Griffiths are lovely cars. Better built that the S Series for sure. S is possibly more fun and cheaper to run. It depends what you want! I've been trying to get shot of my S for a few months now (rough roads don't do her any good, but i will try polybushing) but she keeps playing up so i have to fix her! She won't go! Loyal cars

If I had 4-5k to spend on a car, I'd spend it on nothing else (if I hadn't already got one.) The S is the best head turning, thrill seeking, panty pooping car you can buy for that kind of money.

I love my S and even with it's huge array of the worst problems that can possibly go wrong on one in a series of a few months, it's been a good experience.

[TVR653X]

Having driven my dad's Chim 450, yes, the Chim is wayyyyy more refined and also much quicker. However, the S is raw, equal fun (if not more) and just as loud (obviously the most important factor).
I imagine me and my dad will have a wail of a time in Summer when we're both out on the road. Obviously I will be faster than him though, cuz he's an old git.....I hope he's reading this!